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646CF11A74E5D66487258978007787B3 Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For PRESENTATION FROM PEARL STREET STATION FINANCE LAB

OTHER COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE ON RISING UTILITY RATES
Date Mar 20, 2023      
Location LSB A



Presentation from Pearl Street Station Finance Lab - Committee Discussion Only


03:45:37 PM  
Albert Lin, Executive
Director of the Pearl Street Station Finance Lab, and Ron Lehr, Former
Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), introduced themselves
and began their presentation.  Mr. Lin and Mr. Lehr's presentation
is included as Attachment C.  Mr. Lin went over how the United States
and Colorado got to the current state of utility provision, including the
1973 Oil Embargo and advancements to the ways we generate and manage electricity.
 Mr. Lin went over how the motivation to harm consumers is high under
the current system.  Mr. Lin went over how electricity is the number
one customer to natural gas.  Mr. Lin discussed what the General Assembly
could do to to align policy and the real world.  Mr. Lehr went over
additional strategies to improve planning into the future.
04:04:20 PM  
Mr. Lehr continued to explain how to optimize planning for a better future.
04:09:44 PM  
Mr. Lin went over
some examples of other states who are trying to get off the "zero
bound" 0 percent exposure utilities have to these costs and share
the risks between utilities and the consumers.  Mr. Lin stated that
the fuel cost adjustment has lost its applicability in the current world.
04:14:33 PM  
Mr. Lin answered
questions from the committee about coal and natural gas.  Mr. Lehr
 answered a question about the PUC's planning model. Mr. Lehr answered
a question about multi-year rate plans.  Mr. Lehr and Mr. Lin answered
questions about sharing risk and how to apportion exposure.  Mr. Lehr
 and Mr. Lin answered questions about managing the transition away
from natural gas. Mr. Lin answered a question about the ability of utilities
to attract capital and capital at favorable rates.






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